Mail-box.



(No ModeJ Patented Apr. 9, |90I.

M. J. DALY.

MAIL BOX.

(Application tiled July 30, 1900.)

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UNTED STATES PATENT seroit.

MAIL- BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,692, dated April 9, 1901.

Application tiled -Iuly 30, 1900.

To @ZZ whom, it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. DALY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying diawings,\vhioh make part ot' this specification, Figure I is a perspective of the exterior of the box mounted on its pillar. Fig. II is a section on line II II of Fig. I, showing in dotted lines the bottom of the box open for the discharge of mail, the other parts, however, being in the position assumed when the box is closed. Fig. III is a section on line III III of Fig. II, showing the position of the parts when the bottom is dropped. Fig. IV is a like view showing the position of the parts after the mail has been deposited, the bottom of the box being broken away. Fig. Vis a detailof the toothed shelf or bracket on the side opposite the mailing-slot.

The purpose of my invention, generally stated, is to devise a storm-proof and burglarproof letter-box and also one which does not require unlocking to discover whether there has been'any mail deposited. Again, my letter-box has a dumping-bottom, and it is not necessary to reach in and pull the mail out. If this drop-bottom is not properly closed, no mail can be put in the box. The lock of my Inail-box is placed on the inside, where it cannot be Wrenched oft,

In the accompanying drawings,which make part of this specification, A represents the body of the box, which is preferably made of pressed steel and cannot therefore be cracked or broken by hammering, as is the case with ordinary cast-iron letter-boxes. The upper front corner of the box is provided with a ve"`r tical slot ot, in which moves the slide b, adapted to close the mailing-slot b. The bracket d2 keeps the slide from dropping away altogether from the box. The slide is provided with the ordinary thumb-piece e.

Pivotally mounted on the inside of the box and in proximity with the mailing-slot b' is the flap C, provided on its edge with the teeth or serrations c c. In contact with the serial No. 25,216. (No model."

back of said iiap C is the lifting-arm I), pivoted at d to the case and pivotally connected at d with a weight E.

F is a dumpingbottom hinged at f to the body of the box- A.

' G is a plate or stripper provided with serrations g g, said plate being attlxed at any desired angle to the inside of the back of the box.

H is a lock located on the inside of the box.

I is the pillar, to which the box is secured by the lugs cts a3.

his a check or stop on which the bottom rests when lowered and causing the bottom to act as a chute.

t' is a rod secured to the sides of the box and in line with flap C.

The operation of the parts is as follows: When the bottom F is lowered, weight E, connected to the lowerend ot' arm D, drops,which causes the upper end of arm D to rise through its pivotal connection d. Flap C, pivotally connected at one end and in close proximity -to the mailing-slot, is immediately above said arm D. While said arm D is rising it, being in contact With the under side of flap C, swings the outer end of said flap upwardly and around its pivotal connection CZ, raises the flap C, and swings it across and closes the mailing-slot b'. When the bottom F is being closed, it comes in contact with weight E, raising the weight E and lowering the outer end of arm D, while the flap C remains in position over the slot b. If no mail is deposited, the postman will push up the slide b and find the ap C in position in front ot the slot. This will serve as an indicator that there is no mail in the box, and it will be unnecessary, therefore, for him to unlock the same. If mail has been deposited, the flap C will have fallen down to the position indicated in Fig. II, the entrance of the mail being sutticient to turn the ap on its pivot. Should any one attempt to draw out a letter with a wire, the wire will drop into one of the serrations c c, which, in conjunction with the rod t', will strip the letter off, and the letter will tall back in the bottom of the box. Should one attempt to withdraw a letter in -this way and endeavor to escape the serrations c c by inclining the wire to the back of IOO , same as the size of the mailing-slot.

' he will unlock the same and cause the bottom to drop, and the contents maybe discharged into a bag or other proper receptacle. Should he fail to properly push up the bottom F to its seat, no mail can be deposited,

because the lifting-arm D, which will be thrown up by the dropping of the weight E, will hold the iap O closed against the mailing-slot b. p

Many changes may be made in the relative arrangement and adjustment and attachment of the parts, as well as in their shape and proportions, while still retaining the principle of my invention. For instance, flap C may be non-pivotally attached inside the mail-box; but in this case it Will act merely as a stripper and would not act as an indicator showing that there was mail in the box, nor would it act as a check on a complete closing of the box. Again, various means may be adopted to throw up the lap C if it is pivotally attached to the box instead of lifting-arm D and the weight E. One stripping-plate only may be used; but it will afford an adequate protection. The stripping plate or plates may also be used with boxes that are opened in the usual manner. The serrations c c and g g may be omitted; but their utility is obvious; also, rod t'.

Having describedy my invention, I claiml. In a maibbox the combination of a body, a dumping-bottom, a stop for said bottom, a flap pivoted in proximity to the mailing-slot, a mechanism whereby' said ap shall be closed over the mailing-slot when the bottom is dropped.

2. In a mailing-box the combination of a body, a du wiping-bottom, a iiap pivote-d in the proximity of the mailing-slot, a Weight. sustained by said bottom and a lifting-arm pivotally connected with 'said weight and adapted to throw up the flap over the mailing-slot when the support of the'bottom is withdrawn.

3. In a mail-box, the combination of a body,

va dumping-bottom, a stop for said bottom, a

iap pivoted in proximity to the mailing-slot, said ap adapted to prevent the withdrawal of mail from the slot when the bottom is closed, and mechanism whereby said flap shall be closed over the mailing-slot when the bottom is dropped.

Signed at Pitts bn rg, Pennsyl vania,this 1 Sth day of June, 1900. A

MICHAEL J DALY. Witnesses:

N. W. CASKEY, GODFREY W. LERoH. 

